Careers Advice: Make Your CV Stand Out
So, you want to make your CV stand out when applying for roles in Forestry and Arboriculture. Follow the steps below to help you improve your chances of being selected for your dream job!
1. Put your passion for Forestry in your opening statement
Employers want to hire someone who’s heart is in the job, show them yours is by talking specifically about your passion for the sector. This can and should be edited for different roles that you’re applying for, always keeping it relevant.
2. Don’t say too much
A good CV should be no longer than 2 sides of A4, consider the sheer volume of CVs an employer may receive, they don’t want to be trawling through pages and pages to find out about your experience and skills. With that in mind, keep it concise and use headings and bullet points to make it clear and easy to read so they can quickly pick out all the key points.
3. Ensure everything is accurate and relevant
Having a well written CV immediately demonstrates your ability to write in a clear and structured manner and quite often if the job you’re going for includes writing reports then the employer wants to see that you possess this skill. Quite often we keep updating our CV but you do need to make sure that you’ve amended and proof read so you are providing the right information.
If you’ve had quite a few different roles before moving into forestry make sure you’re only including qualifications that are relevant to what you want to do. If you’ve worked in a very different field you don’t need to list every task you were responsible for, just bullet point the transferable skills this role has given you.
4. Demonstrate a great eye for detail
Pick a structure and stick to it, don’t jump around using different layouts as this makes it harder to read. Make sure you include dates for all jobs, qualifications and volunteering roles. Make sure you are proof reading your work, and get someone else to check it for you. Our members are welcome to contact me for advice and tips on their CV if you want a second pair of eyes on it!
5. Ensure what you share is giving the employer a reason to hire you
When you go through your CV ask yourself, is this demonstrating why they should hire me? And if it isn’t, then take it out! You want your CV to be punchy, remember the interview is where you’ll able to expand and give more detail.
